Jeter goes through first on-field workout of 2014

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter stands in the dugout before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, Sept. 9 2013, in Baltimore.

The first official spring training workout for Yankees’ position players isn’t until Feb. 20, but their captain already has returned to the field at Tampa, Fla.

Derek Jeter hit off a tee and took groundballs Monday at the club’s minor-league complex.

It was Jeter’s first baseball workout since his self-described “nightmare” 2013 season ended prematurely, due to lingering discomfort and other leg issues following separate left ankle fractures.

“I don’t think about [the ankle], and that’s a good thing,” Jeter told The Associated Press following his workout, which consisted of him hitting in the cage and taking 108 grounders in front of the infield dirt at shortstop.

“It’s good to have a normal off-season and get some work in. Everything is normal now.”

After he fractured his ankle during Game 1 of the 2012 AL Championship Series against Detroit, Jeter’s winter workout program was delayed last year until the bone healed. In his haste to return by opening day 2013, Jeter was not able to fully strengthen the surrounding leg muscles.

The captain, who turns 40 in June, experienced ankle soreness upon returning to the Grapefruit League lineup in mid-March and re-fractured the ankle sometime between then and his early April rehab in Florida; he’s unsure exactly when the second break occurred.

Jeter also experienced quad and calf issues and played only 17 games last season, finally calling it a year in early September. He batted just .190 in 63 at-bats.

Yankees pitchers and catchers report Feb. 14, and the club still hopes Masahiro Tanaka will be among the new faces in camp.

The 25-year-old Japanese right-hander has until 5 p.m. Friday to agree to a contract with a major-league club for the coming season, and the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, Diamondbacks and White Sox have extended offers – mostly in the range of six years and over $100 million — according to Nikkan Sports.

Reports have indicated that the Cubs and D-Backs may have made the most lucrative offers. Last week, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Tanaka, 25, prefers Los Angeles and New York as cities to reside in. It also was reported that Tanaka’s wife, a Japanese pop star, prefers the West Coast.

Jeter gets an early start

Yankee captain returns to field at Tampa

By PETE CALDERA

Staff Writer

The first official spring training workout for Yankees’ position players isn’t until Feb. 20, but their captain already has returned to the field at Tampa, Fla.

Derek Jeter hit off a tee and took groundballs Monday at the club’s minor-league complex.

It was Jeter’s first baseball workout since his self-described “nightmare” 2013 season ended prematurely, due to lingering discomfort and other leg issues following separate left ankle fractures.

“I don’t think about [the ankle], and that’s a good thing,” Jeter told The Associated Press following his workout, which consisted of him hitting in the cage and taking 108 grounders in front of the infield dirt at shortstop.

“It’s good to have a normal off-season and get some work in. Everything is normal now.”

After fracturing he fractured his left ankle during Game 1 of the 2012 AL Championship Series against Detroit, Jeter’s winter workout program was delayed last year until the bone healed. In his haste to return by opening day 2013, Jeter was not able to fully strengthen the surrounding leg muscles.